Monday, August 20, 2012

A young boy named Harry Potter finds himself in a world of goblins and fairies. Am I talking about Harry Potter? Hell no, years before J.K would pen her wizard fable Ed Naha wrote something eerily similar. Troll has a awesome cast from everyone from Sonny Bono to Julia Louis Dreyfus (years before Seinfeld) Troll is a crazy roller coaster ride and is a hell of alot of fun. Not popular at the time, these films are quickly growing a hardcore fan base of its own. Award winning writer Ed Naha sits down with Gorehound Mike to talk about writing this cult classic.

Writer Ed Naha and his Memories of Troll“Troll” was my introduction to Charles Band. I had recently moved to Californiafrom New York and made ends meet by both writing books and covering films for “TheNew York Post.” Back East, I had written a book on Roger Corman and wound upwriting my first two screenplays for him once I made the move.I was sent a press package for a really odd film called “The House Where Evil Dwells.”I mean, you know you’re in WothaLand when a spirit possesses a woman’s bowl of soupand her reaction is “There’s an awful face in my soup.” Anyhow, it was produced byAlbert Band, Charlie’s Dad and a wonderful, wonderful guy. He loved making movies.So, I did a phone interview with him about the film for the newspaper and, having nopride whatsoever, told him that I’d just written two low-budget films and if he everneeded a writer…call. (Pleasegod.)A few months later, he did call. They were having problems with a script for a moviecalled “Troll.” I went to Empire and met Albert who, then, introduced me to Charlie andDebra Dion, who oversaw a lot of productions there.They described the movie to me in broad strokes. I don’t know whether they had anoutline or an actual script but they didn’t show it to me. I think it was a pretty straight-onhorror premise. The cast is stalked by a troll. So, we all chatted about how it shouldn’tbe a straight-on horror film. Hokay. Now, what? I was hired, my agent did the deal and Iwas off and running, or at least walking quickly.I’d written two sci-fi mystery novels featuring a futuristic reporter/sleuth named “HarryPorter.” So, I figured, as an inside joke shared with me, myself and I, I named the fatherof the protagonist “Harry Potter.” The protagonist was named “Harry Potter Jr.” Little didI know, eh?Anyhow, once I got into the script, I met director/special effects designer John Beuchlerand he took me to his creature shop – I think it was in his garage - and showed me someof the initial artwork and models.I handed in the script and that was that, for me, anyhow. I have to tell you that the folks atEmpire were great to work with. I mean, the script was definitely “out there.” You had atough-talking witch upstairs, a dwarf who recites epic poetry, and a father who plays air-guitar to Blue Cheer’s “Summertime Blues.” It certainly was different. And, the odder itgot, the more excited the folks at Empire got.When the film was completed, Debbie Dion proved herself to be a saint. My parents werevisiting from New Jersey and she arranged a screening for them at Empire. So, the threeof us watched the movie together. My parents were impressed. I mean, nearly everyonewho’d ever been on TV in the 60s and 70s, from Gary Sandy to Sonny Bono, was in thecast. I think the only thing that could’ve made my mother more elated was having TonyOrlando and Dawn wandering around.The movie was released and a lot of folks found it, um, odd. Some loved it. Others had amore “WTF?” reaction. Over the years, it attracted a solid following – probably becausea lot of kids saw it when they were young. I mean, it’s a family horror film, kinda. All thefolks who are victims of the troll are transformed into whatevers in very cartoonish ways.Of course, once Rowling’s “Harry Potter” books were published, the inevitable happenedwithin the toobz of the Internetz. I have to admit, I was the last to stumble uponthe “Troll” vs. “Potter” imbroglio. There are some folks who swear that Rowling, whilston the dole, viewed the VHS and was inspired. If that’s the case, God bless her. HerHarry had a lightning bolt on his forehead but never rocked out to Blue Cheer.For the last decade or so, there have been various announcements concerning a “Troll”remake or a sequel or a series of festive hats. (I made that last part up. Could you tell?)All I know is: I’ve never been contacted. I’ve never been approached. I’m not involved.So, you can be pretty sure that, if there is another “Troll” flick, nobody will be playing airguitar to “Summertime Blues.”